Mrs. Durfee's 5th
Grade Class
About the Teacher
Welcome to our fifth grade class! This is my fifteenth year in the profession, and there is no place I’d rather be. I am from Myakka City, a small town east of Bradenton where I grew up on a farm. I spent my childhood out in the barn with the animals and showing horses and cattle. I enjoy outdoor activities, working with children, reading, exercising, and spending time with friends and family. As a family, our favorite thing to do is RV camping.
I have been married to my husband Ted Durfee for nearly fourteen years, and we have two wonderful sons. Mason turns 11 this summer and will be going into sixth grade. Corbin is 8 years old and will be starting third grade here at Harvey. Our family enjoys being outdoors and spending time together. Along with our boys, we have a chocolate lab mix named Tucker.
I graduated from USF with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I also earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching, Learning, and Assessment from National Louis University. This year, I plan to finish my dissertation and graduate from USF Tampa with a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. I spent the first five years of my career teaching third and fourth grades at Kinnan Elementary followed by 7 years at Braden River Elementary teaching third and fifth grades. This is my third year here at Harvey and I feel very blessed to be part of such an amazing school.
I am passionate about learning and love coming to school each day. I put a lot of energy and compassion behind my teaching. Not only do I strive for maximum academic growth, leadership skills, and character building, I hope to give your child opportunities to build lifelong memories and friendships throughout the school year.
Some Of My Favorites
Color- blue and turquoise
Snack- trail mix, chips and dip, chocolate covered almonds
Drink- Iced caramel latte
Music Genre- country
Book- Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
Restaurant- Panera Bread, Bonefish
Hobbies- time with family, RV camping, outdoor activities, shopping, reading
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring, and stimulating environment in which to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, and socially. It is my desire as an educator to help students reach their highest potential in these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas. The elements that I believe are essential in establishing such an environment are: high expectations for students- both socially and academically, cooperative learning activities, the Reading and Writing Workshop model, hands on activities, and continuous improvement as an educator. I believe that if students love school and learn to embrace challenges, magic can happen in the classroom.
As a teacher, I look forward to a lifelong of learning. I enjoy attending workshops, seminars, and reading professional books to increase my skills in any area. I enjoy teaching my students, and learning from them as well.